"Next time you're driving the Grapevine and nearing the forest of oil rigs on the outskirts of Bakersfield, look for a six-story guitar. That would be the Hard Rock Casino Tejon, whose opening on Thursday brings industrial-strength Indian gaming - and some Hollywood pizzazz - to a territory better known for cowboy hats, farmland and petroleum extraction. The Tejon casino stands in the rural community of Mettler, near the convergence of Interstate 5 and State Route 99."
"In effect, the casino is a $600-million bet by leaders of Hard Rock International and the Tejon Indian Tribe that they can grab a central role among the many Indian casinos in Southern California. The draw? Most notably, 150,000 square feet of gaming space - including 58 table games and more than 2,000 slot machines - putting it among the largest casinos in Southern California, on par with many along the Strip in Las Vegas."
"And, of course, because this is a Hard Rock venture, there are pop music artifacts on display. Among them: the blue hooded velvet mini dress Sabrina Carpenter wore in her "Please Please Please" music video, signed guitars from Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt, Beck's tambourine and Natalie Cole's orange high heels. The casino also includes four restaurants serving Asian street food, tacos, pizza and American comfort food (especially Nashville hot chicken) - and a bonus feature."
Hard Rock Casino Tejon opened in Mettler near the convergence of Interstate 5 and State Route 99, delivering 150,000 square feet of gaming space with 58 table games and more than 2,000 slot machines. The project cost about $600 million and represents a partnership between Hard Rock International and the Tejon Indian Tribe. The casino is projected to create approximately 1,100 regional jobs. Phase 2 plans call for a 400-room hotel and a concert venue. The property displays pop music artifacts and offers four restaurants, including Deep Cut, a speakeasy-style restaurant emphasizing steak and seafood. The facility ranks among the largest casinos in Southern California, comparable to many resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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